A triad gang alleged to have controlled nightclubs and pubs in Tsim Sha Tsui while supplying mainland prostitutes and illegal drugs to its customers has been smashed after a two-year undercover operation ended in a series of raids, police said.
Thirty-six people, including the suspected ringleader of the syndicate and his core members, were arrested in the operation, which was continuing last night. The alleged mastermind is a 56-year-old man who was seized when officers raided his apartment in Kowloon City.
'Intelligence shows that the man is an alleged Tsim Sha Tsui faction leader of the Sun Yee On triad society,' a police officer said.
Nineteen mainland women, aged 23 to 40, were among those arrested. The officer said investigations showed they were recruited to work in nightclubs controlled by the gang.
A sniffer dog was used to search for drugs in one of the nightclubs and a car parked outside in Prat Avenue.
Superintendent Chan Lok-wing of the organised crime and triad bureau said the arrests were the result of a two-year undercover operation.
'Our undercover agent discovered this syndicate was active in Tsim Sha Tsui and controlled a number of entertainment venues,' he said. 'Investigations indicated it supplied its customers with mainland prostitutes and also allowed its customers and staff members in its premises to tout and take illegal drugs.'